SOMEONE please pass John Hudson (Short Takes 29/11) a tissue please. Supercars in Newcastle is here to stay. I, like thousands of others can't wait for the 2019 event. Merry Christmas, Mr Hudson. TO Neville Aubrey (Short Takes 29/11): yes, evidence is lacking on the gay Jesus debate. Funnily enough, I'm yet to see evidence that a god actually exists. I would say the bible is in fact an ancient propaganda book that has caused more death and destruction than anything known to mankind. Religion and money the cause of all evil. KNICKERS the giant cow from WA (Brisbane Times 29/11) is too big for slaughter. Surely this giant farting machine deserves a bullet to save the world from climate change. Come on, Greens, time to get up and bring this belching bovine to meet his maker before it’s too late. OUR gutters were filled with leaves and debris from last Wednesday’s storms, but do you think the council will clear it to stop it all going down our drains? No, they are too busy watering the trees in Cooks Hill during this beautiful wet weather. Yes, it was raining when they were watering. The mind boggles. NATHAN Brown has finally got the side he wanted, a bought side of mercenaries from other clubs. He only needs Sylvester Stallone to come on the market now. Brown said when he took over that it would take a couple of years to get the side going, and now with the side he’s got it would appear he has no use for locals and appears to be offloading as many as he can. I know the people of Newcastle like to be winners, but I am of the opinion that they like to see some local talent in the side to connect with. THOUSANDS of Sydneysiders expressed their outrage over using the Opera House sails to spruik a horse race. The justification was that the event would be beamed to the world, attracting tourists. Novocastrians, however, appear to have no qualms using their historic streets for a similar purpose. This year, Supercars took the opportunity to advertise the coal industry. The bridge over our oldest street read “AUSTRALIAN COAL: Delivering affordable, reliable power”. On the wire barricades lining the circuit, there was a constant stream of advertising for Supercars' sponsors including a predominance of signage for petroleum companies. Far from taking Newcastle into the future as a global city, I believe this event enthusiastically linked the city to its past and Newcastle ratepayers paid them for the promotion. 50,000 school children go on strike over inaction on climate change (‘‘Too young to vote but will be heard’’, Herald 1/12), and our Prime Minister says he wants “more learning in schools and less activism”. These children know that they and their children may have to live on a planet that may become uninhabitable. So instead of criticising them for their action, do something on the issue.

Craig Swan, Kotara South

TO Neville Aubrey (Short Takes 29/11): yes, evidence is lacking on the gay Jesus debate. Funnily enough, I'm yet to see evidence that a god actually exists. I would say the bible is in fact an ancient propaganda book that has caused more death and destruction than anything known to mankind. Religion and money the cause of all evil.

Brad Hill, Singleton

KNICKERS the giant cow from WA (Brisbane Times 29/11) is too big for slaughter. Surely this giant farting machine deserves a bullet to save the world from climate change. Come on, Greens, time to get up and bring this belching bovine to meet his maker before it’s too late.

Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay

OUR gutters were filled with leaves and debris from last Wednesday’s storms, but do you think the council will clear it to stop it all going down our drains? No, they are too busy watering the trees in Cooks Hill during this beautiful wet weather. Yes, it was raining when they were watering. The mind boggles.

Trish McKay, Cooks Hill

NATHAN Brown has finally got the side he wanted, a bought side of mercenaries from other clubs. He only needs Sylvester Stallone to come on the market now. Brown said when he took over that it would take a couple of years to get the side going, and now with the side he’s got it would appear he has no use for locals and appears to be offloading as many as he can. I know the people of Newcastle like to be winners, but I am of the opinion that they like to see some local talent in the side to connect with.

Allen Small, East Maitland

THOUSANDS of Sydneysiders expressed their outrage over using the Opera House sails to spruik a horse race. The justification was that the event would be beamed to the world, attracting tourists. Novocastrians, however, appear to have no qualms using their historic streets for a similar purpose. This year, Supercars took the opportunity to advertise the coal industry. The bridge over our oldest street read “AUSTRALIAN COAL: Delivering affordable, reliable power”. On the wire barricades lining the circuit, there was a constant stream of advertising for Supercars' sponsors including a predominance of signage for petroleum companies. Far from taking Newcastle into the future as a global city, I believe this event enthusiastically linked the city to its past and Newcastle ratepayers paid them for the promotion.

Christine Everingham, Newcastle East

50,000 school children go on strike over inaction on climate change (‘‘Too young to vote but will be heard’’, Herald 1/12), and our Prime Minister says he wants “more learning in schools and less activism”. These children know that they and their children may have to live on a planet that may become uninhabitable. So instead of criticising them for their action, do something on the issue.